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Do you guys think not eating meat would be an acceptable option for someone with HIV/AIDS?

Hello Salteen,

I've have been eating a vegetarian regime for the last 27 years and been hiv+ for nearly 6 years. My doc is OK with my current diet and, more importantly, it does not seem to have affected my numbers, or been affected by hiv. I have been on meds nearly 4 years and although I have slight side effects such as lipo and a faint neuropathy I certainly can't attribute them to what I eat or don't eat. Just be aware that if you go the veggie route you'll end up cooking much more of your own food but that, as far as I am concerned, is a bonus.

Seadickrun

I've had two HIV specialists and two dietitians tell me that I should shoot for 145 grams of protein each day. That's hard to do eating meat and adding protein shakes and harder to do on a vegetarian diet. Not impossible, just hard. You'll need to eat quite a variety of foods to get the amino acids your body needs so if you're a picky eater or have a bunch of food allergies, it could be tricky.

On the other hand, if your current diet consists of McDonald's and frozen pizza, your body would love a bunch of organic fruits and vegetables. Plus, if you're overweight, you would trim up without as much work (ever see an obese vegan??).

If you are new to vegetarian cooking and food combining, I would suggest starting out by cutting out red meat and sticking with fish and chicken a couple times a week while you get the hang of it. After that, cut out the chicken and once you have mastered the world of grains, give up the fish. I would also suggest getting a copy of Laurel's Kitchen Cookbook which is a vegetarian's bible of sorts. Great recipes and lots of nutrition info. Checkout a secondhand bookstore if funds are tight or get a copy at your local library.

My final suggestion - try quinoa. Its a complete protein grain that you cook exactly as you would white rice. It looks and tastes like brown rice but only 20 minutes to make and a child could cook it without ruining the pan. Bon apetit.

Do you guys think not eating meat would be an acceptable option for someone with HIV/AIDS?

I call myself 99% vegetarian, not strict. I just only eat chicken or fish usually once every few months when I get a serious craving. Having said that, protein can be gotten from sources besides dead animals. Nutirents can do. It just takes work, changing eating habits. I don't like to snack but a strict veg I know carries peanuts, almonds, etc., in his pocket and eats them throughout the day.

I call myself 99% vegetarian, not strict. I just only eat chicken or fish usually once every few months when I get a serious craving. Having said that, protein can be gotten from sources besides dead animals. Nutirents can do. It just takes work, changing eating habits. I don't like to snack but a strict veg I know carries peanuts, almonds, etc., in his pocket and eats them throughout the day.

You are a perfect example of why a nutritionist would benefit the OP.

After reading your post on high blood pressure and now this regarding your eating habits, it is obvious you are a very healthy individual who takes good care of himself.

Even with that though, you are dealing with potential issues regarding your blood pressure.

Since all of us are so different, I believe it is wise practice to get professional guidance based on the individual's needs.

Now, I should practice what I preach and get myself to a nutritionist.

I eat very little meat. I basically see no need for it. It just costs a lot of money. For protein, I drink two gallons of skim milk each week and eat beans, eggs, and nuts - peanuts (Planters are typically a lot better than those dry drought resistant generic ones) - walnuts (I buy them shelled from the baking section in the supermarket) - almonds. Just be careful w/almonds because they're really hard so I usually hold one in my mouth for a few seconds to soften it up before chomping down. I broke a tooth in half chomping on one.

Whole grain brown rice is really filling and dirt cheap. Just beware, whole grain rice sits in your stomach a long time so it will "enhance" the side-effect of Sustiva.

A weekly big fruit salad can be pretty cheap and is much better for a snack or dessert than cakes, pies, and ice cream.... or ugh... these nasty bacon desserts that are turning up. Bacon = poison.

And every now and then you can be devious and munch on some cheddar cheese.

And if you have access to a nutritionist, by all means take advantage of it.

From 2001-2007 I ate a vegetarian diet - some fish/dairy. Mid 2007 I transitioned to vegan - no fish/animal/dairy etc. I was healthy - ideal weight range 160-165. Last March I seroconverted. Was very sick...no appetite lost over 15 pounds in about 3 weeks. On an already slim/no extra fat frame friends kept asking what was wrong..having lost all the weight. After my April 17/08 HIV+ diagnosis...i had severe anxiety...again compounded by everyone asking me why I lost so much weight. I wasn't ready or willing to disclose with certain people. Two friends took me in for about 6 weeks and helped get me " back on my feet. "They weren't vegetarians and I found the "old foods" ie roast beef, chicken etc comforting. My main goal was to put the weight back on--difficult to do just eating brown rice..tofu and greens. 10 months later I'm close to 170lbs (and going to the gym). I started meds 4 months ago. When I'm home I eat mostly vegetarian. When I go out to eat I have what I want...sometimes fish/chicken or lamb (one of the highest natural sources of Vit B12). No pork. In time I may get back to 80-20 vegetarian. I would not do the vegan thing again. I feel healthier carrying a few extra pounds...mostly for psychological reasons...in the event I lose weight again.

It's nice to see quinoa mentioned in this thread. You can Google "quinoa protein" . . I personally think it looks different from brown rice, so, if you look at cooked quinoa for the very first time and it looks a bit strange, that's just how it is.

Just adding to my other quinoa post. There is a dry pasta blend of corn flour and quinoa flour sold in health food supermarkets. Looks just like regular pasta and a lot prettier than cooked quinoa grains

I'm not a vegetarian, but don't eat a lot of meat either. Maybe a turkey sandwich every other day or something. I love red meat, just don't crave it or thinkg to buy it at the store. I guess I better start paying attention also. I will say, when I was trying to lean down and build more muscle with a trainer, he agree with the approx. 150mg of protein a day and I also agree, VERY hard to do even with protein shakes. I guess I'll have to buy a few cows and butcher them myself in the driveway.